Spring 2022 Red Blazer

Next Chapter Alumnae Profiles

Did you know? In 1910, Alice Charlotte Malhiot of Ontario became the first Canadian woman to graduate from an architectural school.

Meg (Hackney) Buchanan ’09

Q&A with Meg Buchanan What is one thing you love to do when you’re not working? When I’mnot working, I love getting outside for pretty much any and every activity. Not only is it the best way to recharge, but being surrounded by nature is my biggest source of inspiration for design. I especially love spending time on the water up at my family cottage, or visiting my favourite place in the world, Tofino, BC, for surfing and hiking. What is something that has most surprised you in your career path? I think when you’re in high school or even just starting out in your career, there’s a certain expectation for things to go in this linear trajectory, where there’s a clear cut path of “next steps” youmust take to get to a certain end goal. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that there’s no right or wrong way to do things. The more twists and turns you take to get there, oftenmeans the more unique experiences you have.

Meg is an interior designer who, until recently, worked at global design and architecture firmHOK, where she won some of the top national and provincial design awards. She recently made the leap to open her own residential and boutique commercial interior design studio. Meg spoke about the twists and turns her career has taken, and the value of “suspending the pressure” when taking leaps and trying new things in her own career. “What has been helpful tome is suspending the pressure to do things perfectly the first time, because it is all of your different experiences that allow you to reach the levels that you continue to achieve,” Meg explained. “For me, I wouldn’t knowwhat I do now had I not made what some people might consider ‘mistakes’. I really do value everything that I’ve gone through. I’m also proud that of my friends fromSCS, I am the first person to pursue being an entrepreneur!”

I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that there’s no right or wrong way to do things. The more twists and turns you take to get there, often means the more unique experiences you have.

— Meg (Hackney) Buchanan ’09

32 | Red Blazer Spring 2022

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